Since late March, medical workers and funeral directors in coronavirus hotspots like New York City have been forced to store coronavirus victims in refrigerated trucks - trucks that are normally used to transport food.
So the truck owners have asked the FDA for guidance on whether these vehicles can go back to their intended purpose, and the FDA responded with a somewhat disturbing handbook called: "Returning refrigerated transport vehicles and refrigerated storage units to food uses after using them to preserve human remains during the COVID-19 pandemic."
It should be noted that the handbook contains mere recommendations - not legal requirements - but they do make it clear that all surfaces of the food-transport truck need to be "thoroughly cleaned and disinfected" with EPA-registered cleaning materials, and may need to be cleaned multiple times.
Air and water sprays should not be used, and workers "may need" personal protective gear while cleaning the trucks. Oh - and if blood or bodily fluids leaked onto the truck's interior surfaces, the FDA says the truck is still OK to carry food.
Good Times.
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